On a day when Hawaiian Airlines launched its inaugural service to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, more than 200 of the company’s 650 pilots picketed outside the departure terminal at Honolulu Airport.

The pilots were demanding a better contract and threatening to strike if management doesn’t meet their demands.

Carrying signs in both English and Japanese, they walked in 30-minute shifts in groups of 25 at both ends of the departure terminal. The signs read, “Hawaiian Pilots Ready to Strike,” “Fully Qualified, Partially Paid” and “No Pilots, No Hawaiian.”

The pilots, who began negotiations with the company nearly 15 months ago, said they are seeking a 45 percent increase in the value of their overall contract that would bring them in parity with their peers. They have been in mediation with the company since March. The pilots and the company have status meetings scheduled for Aug. 2 with the National Mediation Board.

Capt. Tim Canoll, the Washington, D.C.-based president of the Air Line Pilots Association, said the pilots will not stand for a cost-neutral contract.

“These negotiations will not result in a cost-neutral solution for Hawaiian,” said Canoll, who joined the pilots at the picket in Honolulu. “That’s not going to happen. … This is going to cost them money, and they know it. Hopefully, they’ll get earnest about negotiating with us.”

Hawaiian Airlines spokeswoman Ann Botticelli said the company is optimistic that it still can reach a contract.

“We are making progress in negotiations and remain committed to reaching a contract with ALPA that offers our pilots wages, benefits and work rules that are in line with our competitive position in the industry,” Botticelli said.

Canoll said the pilots don’t want a strike, but will walk off the job if necessary.

“A strike is something we don’t want,” he said. “None of these pilots want a strike, but they’re preparing if they have to. If the company forces our hands and we have to strike, we’ll strike.”

Capt. Hoon Lee, chairman of Hawaiian Airlines’ Master Executive Council, said the pilots and the company are “significantly far apart” and that no real progress has been made in the last several months despite more than 30 mediation sessions.

“We’re no closer than we were in the last four months,” he said.

Hawaiian’s pilots are seeking a contract that would improve their wages, benefits and work rules.

A first-year Hawaiian captain flying a wide-body aircraft, such as the company’s Boeing 767 or Airbus A330, earns $202 an hour while a 12-year captain who is at top scale receives $207 an hour, according to ALPA data. By comparison, United Airlines pilots, who agreed to a new contract earlier this year, receive from $232 to $255 an hour for being a captain on a Boeing 767. Delta Air Lines captains flying the same aircraft get from $206 to $226 an hour while American Airlines captains on a Boeing 767 receive $228 to $249 an hour.

Starting pilots at Hawaiian — regardless of aircraft — receive $36 an hour compared with $79 an hour at United, $70 an hour at Delta and $77 an hour at American. Delta pilots are currently in contract negotiations.